Hard to say, but I think the Jets running game could very well be nipping at your heels this year. Leon Washington really seemed to be hitting his stride later last season. From a "non-homer" persepctive, I'm definitely not sold on Taylor being TERRIFIC for you guys this year. He's got some miles on those legs and certainly didn't look fantastic last year with the Jags. I think he'll be ok in a RB by committee situation though. I'm not a huge Maroney fan, but I have a sneaky suspicion he could be in for a big year if he can stay healthy. You would think he would have something to prove, and NEEDS to do something to stay outta BB's doghouse.

Brown and Williams are the biggest 'names' but the Dolphins were just third in the division in rushing last year. I think the Pats running game tends to be overlooked, especially outside New England, because the team utilizes a running back by committee approach rather than relying on a 'feature back' who posts gaudy individual stats. Perhaps that's the downside of so much focus on fantasy football.

With Laurence Maroney healthy, Fred Taylor replacing LaMont Jordan, and a healthy offensive line to go along with the return of Tom Brady, I would say that the Patriots will have the best running game in the division in 2009.

It's hard to totally separate the running game from the passing game. By that I mean that if you don't have a good passing attack, defenses can stack eight men in the box to stop the run, making your run game worse than it would have been.

Having Brady, Moss, and Welker alone in the passing game will make for a better running game then if that wasn't the case, no matter who is the running backs.

I think the Jets running game will suffer because they don't have the QB or WRs that are respected right now.

The Bills will be better in the run than they were last year. Love him or hate him, T.O. is going to help spread out defenses and open up the run for the Bills quite a bit. Teams shut down the Bills' passing attack last year by double-covering Evans. Now the solution isn't so easy. Buffalo can now utilize their other receivers to their strengths as well. They are pretty stacked at the position. Also, believe it or not, the Bills' RBs were the most prolific catching the ball last year, I believe. Rhodes is pretty good and can catch the ball...we'll see how he translates into Buffalo. Fred Jackson is underrated IMO, too. If Buffalo's pretty much new o-line can get it together and Trent Edwards can be the guy he was at the beginning of last year, the Bills will be dangerous on offense this year. Of course, the Patriots won't see Lynch in the season opener...he'll be suspended for that game.

As far as the Dolphins, Pennington is a smart and accurate QB who, of course, doesn't have the strongest arm after all those surgeries. Also, their WRs don't exactly strike fear into the hearts of men. I don't think their Wildcat is going to be nearly as effective this year, but they do have Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, who might be the best duo in the division if you look at them in a vacuum.

It's hard to totally separate the running game from the passing game. By that I mean that if you don't have a good passing attack, defenses can stack eight men in the box to stop the run, making your run game worse than it would have been.

Having Brady, Moss, and Welker alone in the passing game will make for a better running game then if that wasn't the case, no matter who is the running backs.

I think the Jets running game will suffer because they don't have the QB or WRs that are respected right now.

The Bills will be better in the run than they were last year. Love him or hate him, T.O. is going to help spread out defenses and open up the run for the Bills quite a bit. Teams shut down the Bills' passing attack last year by double-covering Evans. Now the solution isn't so easy. Buffalo can now utilize their other receivers to their strengths as well. They are pretty stacked at the position. Also, believe it or not, the Bills' RBs were the most prolific catching the ball last year...in terms of catches, I believe. Rhodes is pretty good and can catch the ball. Fred Jackson is underrated IMO, too. If Buffalo's pretty much new o-line can get it together and Trent Edwards can be the guy he was at the beginning of last year, the Bills will be dangerous on offense this year. Of course, the Patriots won't see Lynch in the season opener...he'll be suspended for that game.

As far as the Dolphins, Pennington is a smart and accurate QB who, of course, doesn't have the strongest arm after all those surgeries. Also, their WRs don't exactly strike fear into the hearts of men. I don't think their Wildcat is going to be nearly as effective this year, but they do have Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, who might be the best duo in the division if you look at them in a vacuum.

So I picked Brown and Williams with an asterisk.

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Stole my thunder. I think the numbers may very well favor NE, but they are playing with a potent passing attack. I think the Pats might rank last in the fact that they'll get many yards because of TFB, Moss, Welker, and friends.

Although I sound biased, the Pats have the best running backs as a group in the league. In fact, the stats don't lie as the Pats rushed for 142 yards per game. In addition, the Pats were without Maroney almost the entire season. Lastly, the addition of Fred Taylor with the return of Maroney makes this group very good.

Sammy Morris is the most productive back on the Pats.
Funny that he is forgotten even here.

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Good call on that... I am very, very OK with the Pats' RB situation, but if I'm being honest, the other AFC teams are stronger at the position. NE's depth might trump Buffalo (when also considering the Lynch suspension), but I still think the Pats are 4th of 4. The other teams have RBs that can take control of a game. Game-changers who are very difficult to stop when rolling... don't feel that way about any of the NE RBs.

Sammy Morris is the most productive back on the Pats.
Funny that he is forgotten even here.

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Yeah, Sammy Morris is good for some big plays throughout the year. Seems like he always has been, going back into his days in Buffalo...when he is given a chance, that is. The thing I remember about him was that he seemed to make those plays when you least expect it; he's good coming fresh off the bench. The only team Morris hasn't been on in the division is the Jets. He did very well for the Patriots last year, averaging 4.7 yards a carry for almost 800 yards and 7 TDs.

Brown and Williams are the biggest 'names' but the Dolphins were just third in the division in rushing last year. I think the Pats running game tends to be overlooked, especially outside New England, because the team utilizes a running back by committee approach rather than relying on a 'feature back' who posts gaudy individual stats. Perhaps that's the downside of so much focus on fantasy football.

With Laurence Maroney healthy, Fred Taylor replacing LaMont Jordan, and a healthy offensive line to go along with the return of Tom Brady, I would say that the Patriots will have the best running game in the division in 2009.

We have the best backs in te AFC East because we seem to have runningbacks for every type of situation. We even have backs that can fill in and be productive like BJGE. though we dont have a probowl type back we have enough good guys to make up for it.

Does Lynch's likely suspension factor into things? I think Buffalo has the most talented backfield, followed by New England, which wins pretty much on the basis that our fourth RB is better than any of the others' third.

I'd have to say for this year only the Bills backfield worries me at all. We've adapted to the wildcat. Thomas Jones doesn't scare me one bit just had one good game when AD and Warren were missing. But with TO in town and what should finally be a pass offense worth respecting, Lynch will be tough.

Leon Washington and Thomas Jones are sick. Not Gonna sit here an lie to myself but I think if you ask BB hed say that Washington and Jones are the best tandem in the AFC East. Thunder and Lighting, plus Washington kills the Pats both out of the Backfield and in the special teams.